Page 61 of One Left Alive
‘Thank you.’
She headed in that direction and hoped that Declan would speak to her. She didn’t want to go back to Ben without anything of value.
* * *
Turning into the corridor that led to the mortuary, she noticed the dark green paint on the walls was peeling and chipped. It badly needed painting to brighten it up; a few more lights wouldn’t go amiss either. Compared to the rest of the hospital it was as if they didn’t pay the electric bill down here. Morgan wished she had her jacket and hadn’t left it in the car. She shivered in the cool breeze flowing along the corridor. She felt as if she was going downhill into a gloomy, damp tunnel rather than walking along a hospital corridor. She supposed it made sense for it to run down; easier to push the trolleys that carried the dead.
She stopped in her tracks, a feeling of unease spreading over her. Footsteps not too far behind made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. A porter came into view and she screeched.
‘Blimey, love, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just coming to make sure you’d found it all right.’
Realising it was the man she’d asked for directions, she let out a loud laugh.
‘Oh, my God. I’m so sorry, I got a little freaked out.’
He grinned. ‘I believe you. I probably should have sent you out to go via the main entrance instead of down here into the depths of hell.’
‘It is a bit like that, isn’t it? I watch too many ghost-hunting programmes on television.’
He caught up with her and carried on walking towards the double doors in the distance.
‘I realised you wouldn’t get in without a card.’ He waved his pass at her. ‘This place is ancient, but the security is pretty good. I don’t suppose the board want visitors stumbling into the mortuary. It’s not the nicest place to be.’
‘No, I don’t suppose it is.’
They reached the doors and he pressed his card onto the small electronic reader, then pushed the door, holding it open for her. She was right in the thick of the mortuary. Next to her was a bank of fridges that filled an entire wall along with a couple of examination tables.
‘Lucky for you the doc isn’t in the middle of a PM.’
The tall, blonde man she recognised as Declan, wearing a pair of blue scrubs, walked in, a clipboard under his arm and a pen tucked behind his wavy hair.
‘Lee, what you doing bringing people into my humble abode without an invitation?’
Morgan really wished she’d come the front way.
‘Sorry, Declan, she was looking for you. I didn’t think.’
Declan stared at her. ‘And you are?’
‘Morgan.’ She coughed. ‘PC Morgan Brookes; I’m working with Ben Matthews on the Potter murders. I was here the other day.’
She hoped she sounded more professional than she felt.
‘Ah, so you were, Morgan. I’ve a terrible memory for faces. Names, now, they always stick in my head. Cool.’ Turning to Lee, he waved. ‘You’re all forgiven, we’re good.’
Lee gave him a thumbs up and went back out the doors they’d just entered through.
‘How can I help?’
Declan led her out of the air-conditioned room which was so cold she was sure her fingers had frostbite. She followed him as they went into an office and he pointed to a chair which had seen better days. She sank down into it, realising it was actually quite comfy.
‘Ben said the tox reports showed GHB in the Potters’ results. I’ve just visited the girl who survived in ICU, and the nurse checked her notes; nothing showed up for her. I wondered if you knew why?’
‘Good question, Morgan, basically GHB is broken down by the body really fast. The detection window is short; it’s only detectable in the blood for up to eight hours and twelve hours in urine. It’s a central nervous system depressant also known as a date-rape drug, but you already know that bit, I imagine?’
She nodded; she knew some of it.
‘It’s highly potent and can be slipped into a drink or food unnoticed, which is why it’s so dangerous. The effects usually kick in after ten minutes of ingesting it and can last quite a few hours.’
